Today in history

Today is Thursday, Feb. 7, the 38th day of 2013. There are 327 days left in the year.

Today's headline:

On Feb. 7, 1943, during World War II, the government announced that rationing of shoes made with leather would begin in two days, limiting consumers to buying three pairs per person per year. Rationing ended in October 1945.

On this date:

In 1795, the 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, dealing with states' sovereign immunity, was ratified.

In 1904, a fire began in Baltimore that raged for 30 hours and destroyed more than 1,500 buildings.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy imposed a full trade embargo on Cuba.

In 1971, women in Switzerland gained the right to vote through a national referendum.

In 1984, space shuttle Challenger astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart went on the first untethered space walk, which lasted nearly six hours.